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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
AB 829, The Animal Cruelty & Violence Intervention Act, Passes Assembly
Public Safety Committee
April 18, 2023, Sacramento, CA – Today, Assembly Bill 829, the Animal Cruelty & Violence Intervention Act, authored by Assemblywoman Marie Waldron (R-Valley Center) passed the Assembly Public Safety Committee with a unanimous vote. The bill, sponsored by Social Compassion in Legislation, will expand currently required counseling for violations of Penal Code 597 to additional sections pertaining to animal abuse, such as those involving malicious violence, willful poisoning, or bestiality. The bill also codifies language which encourages a judge to order a psychological evaluation and, if deemed beneficial after evaluation, to undergo a higher level of counseling in lieu of current mandated counseling.
“We are in the midst of a mental health crisis in California, and those who intentionally inflict harm on animals are part of it,” said Assemblymember Waldron. “Counseling and mental health evaluations are critical safeguards to ensuring cases of animal abuse decrease and the lives of these innocent creatures are saved.”
Over the past 30 years, researchers and professionals, led by Dr. Kenneth Shapiro of the Animal and Society Institute, in a variety of human services and animal welfare disciplines, have established significant correlations (the “Link”) between animal abuse, child abuse and neglect, domestic violence, elder abuse and other violent crimes.
Despite the recognition of this link between violence to animals and to humans, current sentencing options for animal abuse crimes are largely punitive measures that do little to help end the cycle of violence or rehabilitate offenders. Fines, jail time, probation and forced animal
surrender are the primarily utilized options, but may not be enough to address the underlying issues leading to animal abuse. Appropriate mental health evaluation and counseling are essential for public safety and stop the abuser from abusing.
"Over the many years of my work, I've seen case after case demonstrating the link between animal cruelty and human violence, particularly in domestic violence situations," testified Rebecca Katz, Community Solutions Director for Animal Rescue Foundation - Walnut Creek.
"When there is violence to an animal, you can bet there is or will be violence to a human," said Judie Mancuso, Founder & President of Social Compassion in Legislation.
"People convicted of animal abuse crimes need help. This bill expands mandated counseling for animal abuse convictions and calls for psychological evaluations to help prevent the abuser from further crimes against both animals and humans. Yes, people must be punished for hurting animals, but they also need counseling with the hope of fixing their underlying emotional and psychological issues before they do it again or go on to hurt humans."
"This “link” between animal abuse and violence against humans must prompt us to advance measures, like this bill, to not only prevent future animal cruelty but also violence towards humans," said Nickolaus Sackett, Director of Legislative Affairs for Social Compassion in Legislation.
AB 829 will be heard next in the Assembly Appropriations Committee.
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